Mehmet Tütüncü completed his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Gazi University and his master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Maltepe University. He received training in Italy for six months on an IRI scholarship. He also attended the Strategic Marketing program at Harvard Business School and various executive programs at IMD in Switzerland and INSEAD in Singapore. In 2025, he completed the “Leading from the Chair” program at INSEAD in France.

Between 1983 and 1987, he worked as a Specialist at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. From 1987 to 1996, he held various positions at Best Rothmans Entegre Sigara ve Tütün Sanayi A.Ş., including Production Manager, Plant Manager, and General Manager.
Tütüncü began his career at Yıldız Holding in 1996 as Operations Coordinator at Ülker Gıda A.Ş. He subsequently served as General Manager of Ülker’s biscuit and chocolate factories, Vice President of Ülker Group, President of the Food and Beverage Group, President of the Food Group, and President of Ülker International Group.

In 2016, he was appointed Regional CEO responsible for Türkiye, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia within pladis, the organization established under Yıldız Holding. In 2017, his responsibilities were expanded to include South Asia and Latin America, as well as pladis Global Information Systems and Business Models Transformation, and he continued his role as Deputy CEO.

As of October 2018, he assumed the roles of Vice Chair of the Board and CEO of Yıldız Holding. Since May 2025, Tütüncü has continued to serve as Chair of the Board and CEO of Yıldız Holding. He also holds various responsibilities as Chair of the Board, Deputy Chair, and Board Member at Group companies. Tütüncü is a Board Member of TÜGİS and a member of several national and international sectoral organizations.

Yahya Ülker graduated from Koç University with a degree in Business Administration in 2016. Following his university education, he worked at various organizations in London and Switzerland, gaining experience in banking and biscuit manufacturing.

Ülker began his career at Yıldız Holding in 2018, joining Northstar Innovation, the Holding’s innovation company. During this period, he played an active role in implementing innovation projects designed as investments in the Holding’s future, with a particular focus on university-industry collaborations.

Since 2019, as the founder of Yıldız Ventures, he has led the establishment of the Holding’s business unit focused on venture incubation and venture capital investments. Through investments primarily in external startups, he leads teams that support the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

He has also held leadership roles in sales operations and e-commerce at ŞOK Marketler, one of Türkiye’s leading retail companies, successfully completing his responsibilities in these areas.

Yahya Ülker currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board and Transformation & Technology Leader at Yıldız Holding. He also serves as Executive Board Member at Continental Confectionery Company, Yıldız Holding’s global gum and confectionery company.

In 2026, Ülker was appointed Managing Director, Europe at pladis, Yıldız Holding’s global snacking company. In this role, he leads pladis’ European business, working closely with country leaders and regional functions to prioritize growth opportunities and drive initiatives aimed at strengthening efficiency and performance.

Ülker is also a member of TÜSİAD, DEİK Digital Technologies, Yeni Bir Lider Derneği and Q Angels. He contributes to the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a startup mentor at Endeavor Türkiye and supports science- and society-focused initiatives as Chair of the Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation.

Murat Ülker was born in 1959. He graduated from the Management Department of the School of Administrative Sciences at Boğaziçi University, Istanbul.

Mr Ülker studied sector-specific subjects at international schools such as the American Institute of Baking (AIB) and Zentralfachschule der Deutschen Süßwarenwirtschaft (ZDS), serving an internship at American company Continental Baking. In three years, he visited nearly 60 biscuit, chocolate and food factories in the United States and Europe. He also worked on various projects for the International Executive Service Corps (IESC).

Mr Ülker joined Yıldız Holding in 1984 as a Control Coordinator. Over the following years he assumed the roles of Assistant General Manager, and then General Director. As a member of the Executive Committee and a Board Member of various companies in the group, he led a series of cornerstone investments.

In 2000, Mr Ülker became Chairman of the Executive Committee, serving as Chairman for eight years. In 2008 he became Chairman of the Board of Directors. As of January 29, 2020, Mr Ülker continues to take an active role in companies affiliated to the Holding as a Member of the Board, and his role as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at pladis.

Mr Ülker is known for his interest in modern art and Islamic calligraphy. He enjoys sailing and travelling with his wife and three children.

İbrahim Taşkın graduated from İstanbul University Faculty of Law.

He began his career as a self-employed lawyer in 1989 and also pursued academic work from 1990 onwards. In this capacity, he lectured at the Florya Police Training Center under the Turkish National Police. Between 1996 and 2004, he held senior positions at various levels of politics.

Taşkın joined Yıldız Holding in 2004 and served as Legal Counsel, General Manager of Legal Affairs, and Global Head of Legal Affairs. 

He currently serves as Legal Counsel to Yıldız Holding’s Board of Directors and oversees the Holding’s Food Safety, Public Affairs, and Corporate Transactions functions. He also chairs the Yıldız Holding Ethics Board and Food Safety Board.

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Yıldız Holding, İbrahim Taşkın is a Board Member at several Group companies. He is also a founder of various foundations and associations, a Council Member of the İstanbul Chamber of Industry, and a member of MÜSİAD.

Dr. Uğur Demirel graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his PhD in Food Hygiene and Technology at İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa.

Demirel began his career at Maret and later served as Production Manager during the establishment of the Aytaç Integrated Meat Facility. In 1997, he entered the retail sector as Assistant General Manager of Purchasing at Gima. He subsequently served as Commercial Director at CarrefourSA.
Demirel joined Yıldız Holding in 2010 and served as General Manager of the sales company Pasifik Tüketim Ürünleri until 2015. He has been serving as CEO of ŞOK Marketler since 2015.

In 2024, following the consolidation of all retail companies under Yıldız Holding into a single structure, the Retail Group was established. Since then, Uğur Demirel has been serving as President of Yıldız Holding Retail Group, responsible for ŞOK Marketler, Bizim Toptan, Seç Market, and g2m.

Having completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the Leadership Program at INSEAD, Demirel serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of Yıldız Holding. He also serves on the boards of ŞOK Marketler, Bizim Toptan Satış Mağazaları, g2m, Seç Market, Mevsim Taze Sebze Meyve, UCZ Mağazacılık, Yıldız Uluslararası Gıda Yatırımları, and Northstar Araştırma Geliştirme. In addition, he is a member of Yıldız Holding’s Sustainability Steering Committee and Artificial Intelligence Steering Committee.

Having graduated from Harrow School in England, Simon worked as an Accountant at various accounting firms in London. He then worked as an Institutional Stockbroker specialising in Food Retail and Food Manufacturing in London subsequently working in the London, Geneva and Monaco branches of Merrill Lynch. During his time at Merrill Lynch his main area of focus was Türkiye and whilst in Geneva was awarded the Merrill Lynch Banker of the Year award in 1994. He was promoted to First Vice President and Managing Director at Merrill Lynch SAM, Monaco.

Simon decided after nearly a decade at Merrill Lynch to establish Galaxy Asset Management Ltd and Galaxy Monaco SARL. Galaxy Monaco SARL is a boutique Food focused advisory firm.

Simon has served as a Board Member for Yıldız Holding's international subsidiaries and also at Gözde Girişim Sermayesi Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş.

Fahrettin Günalp Ertik holds a bachelor’s degree in Management from Bilkent University. Throughout his career, he has completed executive management programs at INSEAD, Wharton, Kellogg, IMD and Harvard Business School.

Mr. Ertik began his career as a Financial Controller at Finansbank. Between 2002 and 2019, he held several senior positions at Yıldız Holding, including Internal Auditor, Finance Manager at Kellogg, Finance Coordinator of Ülker Food Group, CFO of the Food, Beverage and Retail Group, General Manager of Besler, and Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Manufacturing at Önem Gıda and pladis.

From January 2019 to June 2020, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Board Member at Azersun Holding.

Mr. Ertik rejoined Yıldız Holding in August 2020 as Chief Financial Officer. In addition to serving as a Member of the Board of Directors of Yıldız Holding, he also serves as Vice Chair and Board Member at various Group companies. He leads Yıldız Holding’s Information Systems function and is a member of the Yıldız Holding Information Security Board and Artificial Intelligence Steering Committees.

Mr. Ertik has been recognized as one of Türkiye’s Most Influential CFOs.